Boat brake or drag



March 15, 1960 v. w. MOON BOAT BRAKE OR DRAG 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1958 Fig.3

Vo/ney m Moon INVENTOR.

9 BY wfiwyvm March 15, 1960 v. w. MOON BOAT BRAKE OR DRAG 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1958 Ill Fig.5

Vo/ney PM Moon INVENTOR.

aker. b...

United States Patel-it BOAT BRAKE OR DRAG Volney W. Moon, Coos Bay, Oreg., assignor of fifty percent to Clarence Pace, Jr., Coos Bay, Oreg.

Application January 8, 1958, Serial No. 707,767

7 Claims. (Cl. 114-145) This invention pertains to an attachment for boats and more particularly for an attachment to provide a drag attachment fora boat which while providing proper trolling speeds for idle speeds of the boats motor, it will not hamper the operation of the boat in either forward cruising operation or reverse operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel attachment for boats including adjustable means to allow a boat to troll but which likewise reduce the drag onthe boat at particular speed desired by the operator.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide means whereby the above attachment will float if it becomes unattached from the boat.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a boat including this invention ,while the boat is in cruising operation;

Figure 2 shows the invention at trollingsp eed;

' Figure 3 shows the operation of the invention while the boat is in reverse; 7

Figure 4 is an elevational front view of the attachment comprising this invention;

Figure 5 is an elevational plan view of the attachment of this invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is another sectional view taken substantially along the plane 77 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a still further sectional view taken sub:

tures 24 in the brackets which cooperate with wood screws 26 for attachment to the boat 10. t

More particularly referring to Figure 6, it can be seen that tube 14 includes a hollow portion 28 of a substan' tial volume enclosed by rubber bushings 30 and 32 for 2 providing a water-tight chamber. This water-tight chamber or volume 28 will allow the attachment to float on the surface of the water if by chance it for any-reason became detached from the boat 10.

The rubber bushings 30 and 32 include apertures 34 therein for accommodating a torsion rod36 which-ex tends longitudinally along the length of the hollow tube 14. The tension rod 36 is bent over at one end 38 where it is permanently affixed in a body 40 which conforms to the size of the tube 14. The body 40 has an extension thereonwhich terminates in a knob portion 42. The knob portion 42 is formed integrally with body 40 as is the hexagonal portion 44. A pair of setscrews 46 are threadedly engaged with apertures 48 in tube 14 forlockingly positioningthe portion 44 and along.

therewith the body'40 with a knob portion 42. It will readily be seen in Figure 7 that a plurality of apertures 48 exist around the circumference of tube 14 for accommodating setscrews 46 in a plurality of positions for selectively locking the portion 44. As will be more apparent later,these setscrews provide adjustable torsion means whereby the attachment may be made to operate at different speeds of the boat 10.

The other end of the torsion rod 36 is formed into a loop 50 having a preferably rectangular shape as shown. This loop 50 is mounted within member 54 having a top portion 52 which limits the relative rotational movement between the loop 50 and member 54. Member 5 4 is fixedly engaged with the tube 14 by means of the bolt 56 and cooperating nut 58. The loop 50 extends beyond the confines of tube 14 for reasons which are more fully described below.

The bracket 20 is provided with a recessed portion 60 for rotatably accommodating knob 42. It should be apparent therefore, that the bracket 20 does not impede rotation of the tube 14 in that one tube 14 is .free to rotate in either direction relativev to bracket 20 as the knob 42 freely rotatably cooperates with the portion 60 of bracket 20.. The bracket 22, most clearly seen in Figure 8, has stop portions 62 thereinwhich are designed to allow the loop 50 and torsion rod 36 .to rotate in only one direction. That is, the torsion rod of Fig ure 8 can only rotate in a clockwise direction. Any tendency of the torsion rod 36 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction would be impeded by stops 62.

In theoperation of this attachment, the brackets 20 and 22 are fixed to the boat 10 by the wood screws 26. Now assuming, that the attachment is constructed in accordance with Figure:6 with the boat running at cruising speed the flaps 16 .and 18 along with tube 14 will assume a position as shown in Figure 1. That is, I

the force exerted by the water will cause the flaps 'as' in Figure 8 to turn counter-clockwise. As above noted,

'the loop 50 of torsion rod 36 cannot turn counter-clockwise. However, the turning moment of flap 16 is absorbed by th e torsion rod 36. looped portion 50 of the rod 36, will substantially remain in its normal position due to the stops 62 of bracket 7 22. The tube 14 and accompanying member 54 will limitedly rotate in a counter-clockwise direction about the loop 50 until impeded by the stops 52. The remaining portion of the torsion rod 36' will assume the. tor sion stresses as the tube 14 and knob 42 rotatel in bracket 22.

When the speed of the boat 10 is reduced somewhat the torque or moment created by the water against the flaps 16 and 18 will lessen and the torsion rod 36 will tend to assume its original unstressedcondition allowing flaps 16 and 18 to assume the position shown in Figure 2. As above noted, Figure 2 will offer the occupants of the boat a proper trolling speed.

When it is desired to operate the boat'in a reverse 2,928,365 Patented Mar. '15, 1 960 More specifically, the V a -lil:'e.

vallow an idealtrolling speed while not adversely afiect- .v. 3 direction, the flaps 16 a'nd'18 along with the tube 14 are free to rotate to the position shown inFigure 3 due to the peculiar and novel construction of the bracket 20. As above noted, thestopsffl onlyprevent the, 1ooped portion 50 of torsion rod 36" f'rom frotating in alcou'nterclockwise direction but offer 'no impedanceto a clockwise'movement. p 1

It can now be seen therefore how the" adjustment of The to--be attached directly to the'b'oa't, thereby adding'no weight or bulk to the motor. Furthermore, it to'be noted that once this attachment has been adjusted for the particular boat the operation of it is fully automatic and requires no further manual re-settingby the operator. It is further to be noted that the invention contemplates the use of a minimum number of simple parts thereby minimizing the cost of the invention! The simplicity of the invention along with the relatively few moving parts will provide the attachment with a long Furthermore, this invention has been provided to ingthe highspeed'or reverse operation of' the boat.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention; Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the artitis not desired -'to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications rand equivalents may be resorted to, falling within'the' scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is'as follows:

19A trolling attachment for boats comprising a tube, a flap depending from said tube, an elongated torsion -rod within said tube, said rod lockably and rotatably fixed in said tube at a first end of said tube, said rod projecting from said tubelat' a second end, a pair of p brackets; rotatable means for rotatably mounting said i ==tubein one of said brackets near said first end,"and 'tor- -sion means-for mounting said rod projecting portion, in

said second bracket atfsaid second end.

ZJA-trollirig attachment for'b'oats comprising a tube,

a flap depending from said tube, an elongated torsion rod within said tube, said rod' lockably and rotatably fixed in said tube at a first end of said tube, said-rod projecting from said tube at a second end, a pair-of brackets, rotatable means for rotatably mounting said tube in first of said brackets near said one end, and torsion means for mounting said rod projectingportion in said second bracket "at said second end, said torsion means including stop portions within said second bracket for limiting free rotational movement of said tube in one direction while permitting free rotational movement in said second direction.

3. A trolling attachment for boats comprising a tube,

a flap depending from said tube, an elongated torsion second bracket.

rod within said tube, said rod lockably and rotatably fixed in said tube at a first end of said tube; said rod projecting from said tube at a second end, a pair of brackets, rotatable means for rotatably mounting said tube in first of said brackets near said one end, and torsion means for mounting said rod projecting portion in said second bracket at said second end, said torsion means including stop portionswithin said second bracket for limiting free rotational movement of said tube in one direction while permitting free rotational movement in said second direction, and adjustable means at said one end for varying the normal torsion along said torsion rod..; t j i 4. The combination of claim 3rwherein said adjustable means includes a nut in fixed relation to said first end of said rod, said nut being rotatably supported in said tube whereby a rotation of said nut will rotate said first end of said rod and setscrew means for locking. said nut in a fixedpositionq 5. 'In combination with'a boat having "areas outboard motor, a trolling attachment comprising a tube, a pair of flaps fixedlydepending from said tube and adapted to be positioned on either side of said motor, an elongated torsion-rod within said tube, said rod lockably and rotatably fixed insaid tube at a first. end of said tube, said rod projectingfrom said tube at a second end, a pair of-brackets, means for securing said'brackets to said boatjrotatable means'for rotatably'mounting said tube in one of said brackets near said first end, and torsion means for mounting said rod projecting portion in said second bracket at said second end.

6. A trolling attachment for boatscomprising a tube, a flap dependingirom said tube, an elongated torsion rod within said tube, said rod lockably and rotatably fixed in said tube at a first end of said tube, said rod projecting from said tube at ,a second end, a pair of brackets, rotatable means for rotatably mounting said tube in one of said brackets near said first end, and torsion means for mounting said rod,projecting portion in said second bracket at' said second endgsaidtorsion means including stop portions withinsaid second bracket for limiting free rotational movement of said tube in one direction while permittingfree rotational movement in said second direction, said rod projecting portion ineluding a rectangular loop. 7 i j V 7. A trolling attachment for boats comprising a tube, a flapfdepending from said tube, an elongated torsion rod "within said tube, said rod lockably and rotatably fixed in saidtube at a firstend'of saidtube, said rod projecting from said tube at a second end, a pair of brackets, rotatable means for rotatably mounting said one direction while permitting free rotational movement in said second direction, said rod projecting portion including a rectangular loop, said rectangular loop normally biased in a vertical position, portions in said end of said tube similar'to said stop portions within said References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,719,503 Smith Oct. 4, 1955 

